DOE invests in energy efficiency

The Department of Energy plans to upgrade federal facilities.

The United States Department of Energy is prepared to spend up to $80 billion to increase energy efficiency in buildings and facilities across the US. The investment comes through contracts awarded to 16 different Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) including Honeywell International, Lockheed Martin Services, NORESCO LLC and Trane U.S., Inc.

"The federal government is the largest single user of energy in the United States and these awards demonstrate a commitment to sound government stewardship by recognizing efforts to save energy, reduce federal energy costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions, bring more cutting-edge technologies to use, strengthen national security, and create a stronger economy." Source: US DOE

The issuance of these contracts is designed to allow DOE facilities meet the goals in President Bush's Executive Order 13423, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Executive Order 13423, "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy and Transportation Management", was signed on January 24, 2007 and provides energy efficiency goals for government agencies.

One of the goals listed in the seven page document is for agencies to "improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the agency, through reduction of energy intensity by (i) 3 percent annually through the end of fiscal year 2015, or (ii) 30 percent by the end of fiscal year 2015, relative to the baseline of the agency’s energy use in fiscal year 2003." Source: Office of the Federal Environmental Executive

The contracts awarded to the various ESCOs will ensure that the buildings and facilities are able to meet the goals set forth by the US government.